The Relation between Demographic Factors, Family History, Concomitant Autoimmune Diseases and Glycemic Control in Children with Type 1 Diabetes, A Cross- Sectional Study

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a common disease which causes acute and chronic complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, retinopathy, nephropathy, and atherosclerosis. Improvement in glycemic control can prevent these complications. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the role of demographic factors, family history of diabetes and concomitant autoimmune diseases on glycemic control in children with T1DM in the south of Iran. Materials and Methods: One hundred children with T1DM who were referred to a pediatric diabetes subspecialty clinic were enrolled in the study. Patients with type 2 and other types of diabetes and the ones whose diabetes type was not clinically clear were excluded from the study. After taking  history and physical examination, data collection forms about the participants’ demographic factors were filled out. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level, total Immunoglobulin A (IgA), anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA, T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone were measured. Descriptive statistics were applied for analysis of the data.Results: Older patients had significantly higher HbA1c levels (P-value= 0.023) According to linear regression model, HbA1C level increases up to about %12 per year. Other factors such as sex, parental education, and family history of diabetes and concomitant autoimmune diseases (hypothyroidism and celiac disease) had no significant relationship with HbA1C level.Conclusions: As the patient grows, his/ her glycemic control worsens. Therefore, more strict efforts should be made as to education, more expert visits and more social aids in order to protect from short term and long term complications.